Commentary from National Space Society leaders and members on ongoing space missions

June 14, 2007

ISS Computer Glitch

In the news this morning is the failure of two Russian computers on the space station, possibly related to the installation of the new solar panels in the present mission. This has meant loss of control of the Russian thrusters that control station orientation, and loss of the oxygen generators, among other components. The computers on the US side are still operational, and there's backup oxygen for a while. But there is talk about temporarily abandoning the station; we hope that won't be necessary, and wish space and ground crews well in diagnosing and fixing the problem quickly.